It is not possible to correctly ID a Ganoderma australe from applanatum by appearances alone, nor indeed by the presence of any nipple galls (which do occur on both - confirmed during BMS foray to Suffolk 2009) A vertical section must be cut out and scrutinised or else simply check the spore size under a microscope.In general, G. applanatum tend to be thinner, but it can be the other way around with australe being thinner.